Driving mechanism for vehicles.



C. H. YOUNG.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION min AUG. 22. lsu.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

2 susirslsnsn I.

C. H. YOUNG.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATIUN mio M1922. 911.

1,279,818. Patented Sept. 24, 191s.

2 SHETS-SHEET 2.

CLIFFORD H. YOUNG, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 24, 1918.

Application led August 22, 1917. Serial No. 187,725.

lowing is a full, clear, and exact description,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

nisms for automobilesv and other vehicles of the type in which power isapplied directly to those wheels o the vehlcle which are turned to guideor change the path of travel of the vehicle- The main object of mypresent invention -is to provide a mechanism of the character referredto, in which the coperating parts are so constructed and designed thatthe mechanism will stand up successfully under rough usage.

Another object is to provide a mechanism of the character referred tothat can be assembled or disassembled easily.

Still another object is to provide a mechanism of the character referredto, in which the axle housin is provided with relatively long bearingsor the wheel spindles, and the stub shafts or short axles to which thewheels are connected are supported at their inner ends bylaterally-projecting extensions on the spindles, thus insuring anexceptionall;7 strong and substantial structure. Other obJects anddesirable features of my invention will be hereinafter pointedA out.4

Figure 1 of the drawings is a to'p plan view, partly in horizontalsection, of a front wheel drivlng mechanism constructed in accordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of said mechanism, partly in verticalsection.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the wheel-carrying members.

ig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the top members that forms part ofthe axle housing. v

Fig. 6 is a perspective View ofone of the bottom members t at forms partof the axle housin Fig. is a, perspective view of one of the stub shaftsor wheel axles; and

This invention relates to driving mecha-` Fig. 8 is a perspective viewof one of the spindles.

Referring to the drawings, which illusirate the preferred form of myinvention, 1

designates two drive shafts adapted to be driven by any suitable means,such, for example, as a propeller shaft, and a differential mechanism(not shown) to which the inner ends of the drive shafts 1 are connected.Each of the drive shafts l is provided at its outer end with a beveledpinion 2 that meshes with an idler 3, which, in turn, meshes with abeveled pinion 4 secured to a horizontally-dis osed stub shaft or axle 5is connected. T e shafts 1 are incased in to which one of the frontwheels (not shown) an axle housing'which preferably consists of atubular-shaped intermediate portion 6 provided at each of its ends witha split housing portion formed by a top member A and a bottom member B,which members A and B are secured to the intermediate portion 6 of theaxle housing by fastening devices 7, or in any other suitable manner. Ateach end of the axle housing is a verticall disposed spindle C which isjournaled 1n relatively long bearings carried by the axle housing, andthe axle housing is also provided at each of its ends with anoscillating wheel carrying member D that is provided with an axle box orbearing portion 1n which one of the stub shafts or wheel axles 5` isjournaled. The wheel carr ing members D are provided 'with angulary-disposed arms 8 to which the usual drag link (not shown) of thesteering mechanism of the vehicle is connected, so that when saidsteering mech- `anism is actuated the wheel carryin members D will swinhorizontally and t us ,effect a chan in tile direction of travel of the.vehicle ny .further description of the general operation of mymechanism is not deemed necessary, as said mechanism operates insubstantially the same manner as numerous other front wheeldrivingmechanisms which have heretoforebeen devised, but it is constructedI ina diierent manner from such prior mechanisms.

One distinguishing characteristic of my mechanism is that the wheel camembers D, the spindles C and the top and `bottom members A that formthe split portions of the axle housin are so constructed that they arecapable o successfully withstandmg par buch and loads. As shown in rigs.i and 6. the top and bottom members t und Il ich consist of a castingprovided a ith a sem-tubulaisliaped portion 9 so that when said membersare combined the portions 9 will form a sleeve that surrounds thetubular-shaped member 6 that constitutes the interme iate portion oftheaxle housin Said members A and B are provided wi segmental-shaped walls10 whose horizontal edges butt a alnst each other when the members A andare assembled, the walls 10 extending throughout only a smalkarea of themembers A and B, so as to form a horizontally-disposed slot or openingin the front end of the split ortion of the housing that receives anaxle box 11 on one of the wheel carrying members D. The wheel carryingmembers vD are both of the same construction and each consists of arectangularshaped box 11, preferably of oblong form, that is integrallconnected to the inner side of a semi-circu ar-shaped wall or part 12whose end portions are tied together by a horizontally-dis osed strap orcross piece 13 that is formed integral with same, the`arm 8 previouslyreferred to to which the drag link of the steerin mechanism is connectedforming an integra extension of the strap or part 13. When the parts ofthe mechanism are assembled, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the axle box 11of each of the wheel carrying members will t snugl in thehorizontallydisposed slot in the sp it end port-ion of the axle housing,and the cross piece or strap 13 of said wheel carrying member willextend downwardly -under the bottom member of the axle housing, as shownclearly in Fig. 2,

lthe curved wall 12 of the wheel carrying member serving as a closurefor the slot in the axle housing in which the axle box 11 on the wheelcarryin member slides.

Euch of the spindles C consists of a vertically-disposed pivot pinprovided intermediate iis ends with an enlarged integral portion 14 thatserves as a thrust bearing which co crates with relatively long,tubular-shape bearings 15 and 16 on the top and bottom members A and B,respectively, that receive the cylindrical ortions 17 of said spindlethat lie above an below the enlarged portion` 14 of the spindle. Each ofthe spindles C is provided at its lower end with a non-circular-shapedportion 18 that lits in a non-circular-shaped hole 19 in the cross piece13 of the wheel carrylng member D with which said spindle cooperates,the wheel carrying member being securely connected to said spindle bymeans of a nut 19l mounted on the lower end of same beneath the crosspiece 13 of the wheel carrying member, as shown in Fig. 2. y

Each of the stub shafts or wheel axles 5 is rovided with a portion 20that lite in a 66 rol er p bearing or other friction-reducing bearing 21mounted in the axle box 11 on its coperating wheel carrying member, andeach of said wheel axles is also provided on its inner end with a sleeveor tubular portion 22 that surrounds a roller bearing or other suitablefriction-reducing bearing 23 which receives a laterally-projectingextension 24 on the spindle C with which said wheel axle cooperates,said extension 24 preferably being formed integral with the enlargedportion 14 of the spindle.

The horizontal surfaces on the topand bottom members A and B of the axlehousing that form the upper and lower edges of the horizontal slots' inthe axle housing in which the axle boxes 11 on the members D slide arepreferably provided with ball races 25, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, thatreceive ball bearings 26, shown in Fig. 2, the upper and lower edges ofthe axle boxes 11 also being provided with ball races 25". I also preferto arrange ball bearings 27 between the thrust bearings 15 and 16 on theaxle hous ing in which the spindles are journaled, and if desired, ballbearings 28 can be arranged between the to members A of the axle housingand the i lers 3 that form art of the driving mechanism, the idlers 3eing rotatably mounted on the bearings 15. The top members A of the axlehousing are preferably so designed that they lap over the edges of thecurved walls 12 of the wheel carrying members, and if desired, ballbearings 29 can bearranged in ball races formed in the upper edges ofsaid curved Walls 12 and in the overlapping portions of the top membersA, so as to further reduce the friction between said parts. As shown inFigs. 5 and A6, the semi-tubular portions 9 of the members A and B areprovided on their inner sides with ribs 30 that form abutments forroller bearings 31 in which the drive axles 1 are journaled, and ifdesired,the wheel axles or stub shafts can be provided with collars 32,as shown in Fig. 2, that bear against the curved walls 12 of the wheelcarrying members in which said wheel axles are Journaled.

A front axle driving mechanism of the construction above described isexceptionally strong and rigid, owing to the filet that each of thespindles of same is provided intermediate its ends with an integralthrust bearing 14 that is arranged betwen two: relatively longbearingson the axle housing that surround the upper and lower end portionsof'the spindles, the strain towhich the spindles are subjected whenthe'm'echa; nism is in use being partly relieved by the relatively largecoperatln bearing surfaces on the axle boxes 11 o? the wheel carryingmembers and the portions of the axle housing on which said boxes slide.In addition to the fact that the spindles are firmly braced and heldsecurely in position by a number of coperating thrust bearings, the

wheel axles or stub shafts 5 of my improved mechanism are alsoexceptionally strong, owing to the fact that each of said shafts isjournaled intermediate its ends in a relatively large anti-frictionbearing carried by its cooperating wheel carrying member, and its innerend is supported by a lateral extension 2l oii the spindle with which itcooperates. The parts of my improved mechanism can be assembled ordisassembled easily, owing to the novel construction of same, and as theprincipal parts of same which move relatively to each other are equippedwith ball bearings or other suitable anti-friction bearings, the Wheelsof the vehicle can be turned easily to change the direction of travel ofthe vehicle. The mechanism can be used for a long period in view of thefact that there are very few rubbing parts on saine which are apt towear out quickly. While I have herein illustrated my improved drivingmechanism `a plied to the front wheels of a vehicle, it wi lbe obviousthat it could be applied to the rear wheels of a vehicle of the type inwhich the rear wheels are adapted'to be turned so as to control orassist in controlling the direction of travel of the vehicle.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. Adriving mechanism for vehicles, comprising a sup-porting structure,a verticallydisposed spindle journaled in same'and provided intermediateits ends with an enlarged portion, relatively long, tubular-shapedbearings on said supporting structure that surround said spindle andcoperate with the enlarged portion on said spindle to form a thrustbearing, a laterally-projecting extension on the enlarged ortion of saids indle, and a horizontally disposed wheel ax e provided at its innerend with a tubular portion into which said extension projects.

2. A driving mechanism for vehicles, comprising an axle housing providedat one end with a split portion provided with a top member and a bottommember, relatively long, tubular-shaped bearings integrally connected tosaid members and promoting to- Ward each other, a vertically-dis osedspindle journaled in said bearings an having an enlarged portion that isinterposed between the inner ends of said bearings, an extensionprojecting laterally from the. enlarged portion of said spindle, ahorizontally-disposed wheel axle provided at its inner end with atubular portion, and a. bearing in the `tubular portion of said axlethat receives the lateral extension on said spindle.

3. A driving mechanism for vehicles, comprising an axle housing providedat one end with a supporting structure equipped with ahorizontally-disposed slot, a verticallydisposed spindle journaled nsaid supporting structure, a wheel carrying member having a curved wallthat serves as a closure for said slot and which is provided on itsinner side with an axle box that projects into said slot and slides onthe lower edge of same, a cross piece or strap integrally connected tothe curved wall of said wheel-carrying member and projecting underneathsaid supporting structure, a wheel axle jouriialed in said axle box, andmeans for securing the cross piece of said wheel carrying member to thelower end of said spindle.

l. A driving mechanism for vehicles, comprising an axle housing providedwith a split end portion formed by a top member and a bottom memberhaving segmentalshaped walls that contact with each other,

an oscillating wheel carrying member having an axle box that slideshorizontally in a slot formed in the split end portion of the axlehousing, a vertically-disposed spindle journaled in bearings on said topand bottom member and provided with an enlarged portion that isinterposed between said bearings, and a wheel' axle journaled in saidaxle box and rovided at its inner end with a hollow portion thatreceives a laterally-projecting extension on said spindle.

5. A driving mechanism for vehicles, comprising a supportin structureprovided with a horizontallyisposed slot, a vertically disposed spindlejournaled in said structure, an oscillating wheel carrying memberprovided with a curved wall that serves as a closure for said slot, anaxle box on said wall that projects into said slot, a cross piece onsaid wheel carrying member arranged under said supporting structure andconnected to said spindle, and anti-frietion bearings arran ed betweensaid axle box and the edges o? said slot and between the upper edge ofthe curved wall of said wheel carrying member and a portion on saidsupporting structure that laps over same.

-6. A driving mechanism for vehicles, cornrising an axle housingcomposed of a tubuar-shaped intermediate member and a split end portionformed by top and bottom members secured to one end portion of saidintermediate member so as to form horizontally divided housing,tubular-shaped bearings on said top and bottom members arranged invertical alinement with each other and havin their inner ends spacedapart, a verticallyisposed spindle journaled 1n said bearings andprovided with an enlarged portion t at lies intermediate said bearings,anti-friction bearings arranged between said enlarged portion and thebearings above and below same, an oscillating wheel carryin memberprovided with an axle box tha slides in a horizontally-disposed slot inthe split end portion of the housing, an integral cross piece on saidwheel carrying member secured to said spindle, a wheel axle journaled inthe axle box in said Wheel carrying member, and a connection between salspindle and the inner end of said Wheel axle. 4

7. A driving mechanism for vehicles, cornprsing an axle housing providedwith a split end portion formed by a top member and a bottom member thathave coperating openings in same which form'a horizontallydisposed slot,a vertically-disposed spindle journaled in bearings on said top andbottom members and provided with an enlarged portion that liesintermediate said bearings,

an oscillating wheel carrying member havin an axle box that is slidinglymounted in said slot, said wheel carrying member having a curved portionthat serves as a closure for said slot and a cross piece integrallyconnected to said curved portion and secured to said spindle so as tocause the wheel carrying member to oscillate when the s indle turns anda wheel axle 'ournale in said axle box and provided at its inner endwith a friction reducin bearing that receives a laterally-projectingextension on the enlarged portion of said spindle.

CLIFFORD H. YOUNG.

1 Cl. IBO-43..

An i. hmby unified .1min mim hun: No. 1,279,818, granted sepmmbr '24,191'8, upon the application .of Cliord H. Young, of St. Louis, Missouri,for

an improvement in "Driving Mohanism for Vehicles, errors nppearin theprinted specification requiring correction as follows: Page l, afterline 68, insert the words to whh om of thefront wheels (not shown); samepage strike out line 70 as now numbered; and that the said LettersPatent shoulii be redwith these corrections` therein that the same muycoliform to the record of the one in the Patent Ofoe.

Signed and sealed this 19th dsy of August, A. D., 1919.

J. T. NEWTON,

Omnmeofner or Polenta.

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